Universal: 'Fast Five' Is a 'Transitional Movie,' Studio Will Reboot Franchise Into Heist Series

Wary of the story limitations put on a franchise the longer it runs, Universal Pictures is calling the latest installment in its 'Fast and Furious' machine, this weekend's hotly anticipated 'Fast Five,' a "transitional movie" because the studio is hoping it will carry the street-racing series into a new genre: the heist movie. The plot of 'Fast Five' reportedly sets up a sequel that will fall squarely into that territory.

Adam Fogelson, chairman of Universal Pictures, told Deadline, "The question putting 'Fast Five' and 'Fast Six' together for us was: Can we take it out of being a pure car culture movie and into being a true action franchise in the spirit of those great heist films made 10 or 15 years ago?"

The answer, it seems, was to give screenwriter Chris Morgan, the man behind the well-received Angelina Jolie–James McAvoy spy thriller 'Wanted,' a little bit of free reign to carve out the fifth and sixth films as part of his new production deal at Universal with an eye toward shaking the franchise up.